Chapter 18
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: First Escort Mission (4)
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“Ahem... Sorry about that, Hero Kang.”
An Ji-so, the sub-branch leader of the Underground Network's Taiyuan branch, wore an awkward expression.
The leather pouch at his waist, which he'd stuffed full of money from the safe faster than anyone upon hearing of the Golden Ghost Indestructible's arrival, was stretched open and ragged at the edges.
“...If you'd crammed in just a bit more, your clothes would've ripped.”
“S-Sorry. It was an attack, so I reacted without thinking. Haha.”
An Ji-so offered Moo-jin a teacup filled with hot tea, his face flushed with embarrassment.
He felt bad for treating a customer there to buy information like some assailant, but from their perspective, it was a perfectly natural response.
After smashing the Silver Push Sect and even the Crimson Flame Gang single-handedly as of late, the Diamond Escort Agency's monster had come knocking at the Underground Network's door—what else could they think but that he was there to wreck the place?
“I'm not the type to beat just anyone on a whim.”
Going around punching people because you didn't like them? That was evil faction behavior, not righteous.
As a scion of the Diamond Escort Agency, which pursued the righteous path under Shaolin's endorsement, he had no intention of stooping to that.
Of course... there were times when he just wanted to punch someone anyway.
“Of course not. I'll spread word of your intentions to the local evil faction groups right away—even to those who've already fled!”
“Those who've fled?”
Moo-jin tilted his head in confusion.
Left Taiyuan, did they?
“Ah, yes. Quite a few bolted after you smashed the Crimson Flame Gang leader.”
“Guys who had beef with the Diamond Escort Agency? Borrowed money and didn't pay up, or lent it and threw tantrums? Or maybe ripped someone's clothes?”
“...?”
An Ji-so was puzzled by the sudden mention of ripped clothes at the end but decided not to ask.
Kang Moo-jin's massive hand looked far too thick for that.
“No. They just ran scared.”
“I see.”
“Yes. So, what information were you after?”
“Information on the disappearance of the Diamond Escort Agency's second young master, Kang Moo-seon. It happened near the Sichuan Yun Family.”
An Ji-so's face turned troubled at those words.
“Hmm... Hero, sorry, but that intel comes at a steep price.”
“How much?”
“Eighty gold taels.”
Moo-jin's expression hardened instantly.
“S-Sorry! But it's set by the higher-ups—I can't budge on it. Hero, between Sword Corner Mountain and all that, the price has to be high. Please, just spare our lives...”
“Not planning on that.”
Moo-jin downed the hot tea in one gulp and stood.
“I'll scrape together more money and come back.”
“Ah... Thank you.”
An Ji-so sighed in relief at Moo-jin's retreating back, then pulled out his brush to jot down new notes on Kang Moo-jin.
'Extremely sensitive about clothes. Exercise utmost caution.'
Back at the Diamond Escort Agency, Kang Moo-jin headed straight for Kang So-gong.
Kang So-gong, loosening up lightly under the moonlight in the training yard, smiled warmly at his son.
“Trip go well?”
Moo-jin shook his head. The shadows from the moonlight darkened his expression further.
“It's more than we can afford right now.”
“If both the Underground Network and Beggar Clan say the same, no helping it. Money's the issue, then.”
Kang So-gong gazed at the lonely moon overhead and sighed.
“Only one way, Father.”
“And what's that?”
Stars twinkled beside the solitary moon. Moo-jin's eyes gleamed in kind.
“Escort runs. Time to start.”
Kang So-gong hesitated to reply.
His last escort run had cost him his second son and sent the agency into freefall—easy words didn't come.
“...”
Failure drags people into a swamp of fear.
The moment you realize the path you strode so boldly is no longer flat ground, that you could stumble again, your feet grow leaden.
The Diamond Escort Agency's head, Kang So-gong, hadn't just failed—he'd suffered a catastrophic one.
Money, family, honor—all lost.
He'd been mired in that bottomless swamp, only recently clawing his way out.
'Is it okay...?'
Was the Diamond Escort Agency truly ready?
Even if the road ahead was a hellish mire, were they prepared to walk it?
As he searched for answers, Kang So-gong's gaze settled on Kang Moo-jin.
'It'll be fine.'
Seeing his son, a towering Mount Tai of a man who blotted out the mountains behind him, banished the unease from his eyes.
The answer to his question lay with his son.
'We're ready.'
He had his most trustworthy youngest son, Kang Moo-jin.
What more preparation did he need?
“He'll smash... no, handle everything himself.”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing.”
Kang So-gong nodded and met Moo-jin's eyes.
“Escort agency... let's do it.”
“Yes, Father.”
Kang Moo-jin and Kang So-gong shared faint smiles.
And so,
the long-dormant Diamond Escort Agency began to spread its wings once more.
Taiyuan, Ma's Gourmet Inn.
The Ma's Gourmet Inn, famed across Shanxi Province's capital Taiyuan, was a single-story building of massive scale.
From above, its roof looked like five ordinary halls fused together.
Atop that roof, a middle-aged man pressed his ear to the tiles, sprawled flat.
Sweating under the blazing sun, he jammed his ear into a roof crack—none other than the informant Gu Family Head.
Banned from entry after causing several disturbances inside, he'd chosen this detour for intel.
“Ugh. What a hassle. That stingy waiter making me suffer like this...”
Unable to hold back his grievance, Gu grumbled.
Come on, doesn't happen to everyone—spew a little booze on another guest now and then?
Banned for something so trivial?!
Gu felt wronged.
But no choice. No inn traded more information.
'Better eavesdrop quick and grab a bite elsewhere.'
Gu plugged his free ear with a finger and focused on the conversations inside.
The faint voices sharpened.
“Heard? The Diamond Escort Agency's reopening.”
“Diamond Escort Agency?”
“Where's that again?”
“Y'know, the one that was big then crashed.”
“Ohhh! The one that lost their second son and went downhill?”
“Thought they were done for good?!”
Gu shook his head and clicked his tongue at the chatter.
“Tsk tsk. Still clueless. Don't you know the Golden Ghost Indestructible hails from there?!”
Eyes widened, mouths agape at his words.
“That hero's from there?!”
“Yeah, rings a bell! Kang Moo-jin, the Diamond Escort Agency's youngest young master!”
“Whoa! Golden Ghost Indestructible's one of theirs? Makes sense—they're due for a comeback.”
The crowd buzzed in shock at Gu's bombshell.
Expressions varied, but one sentiment united them:
The Golden Ghost Indestructible, Kang Moo-jin, would whip up a storm for the Diamond Escort Agency.
“Taiyuan's other agencies are in trouble now.”
“No doubt. Who'd stand against the Golden Ghost Indestructible at the vanguard?”
“Taiyuan's top agency, hands down.”
As the murmurs swelled, Gu shook his head with a displeased frown.
“Doubt it.”
“Hm? What d'you mean, Gu?”
“Got a different take?”
Spotlight back on him, Gu spoke arrogantly.
“Escort agencies are delicate business. Not something one strong warrior can swing.”
An agency was a business, and businesses didn't rise or fall on a single fighter.
Besides, Taiyuan had several large-scale agencies already.
Could the Diamond Escort Agency, with just the Golden Ghost Indestructible, really compete?
Gu didn't think so.
“The Diamond Escort Agency's doomed.”
“Hmm. Kinda makes sense.”
“If Gu says so, there's logic to it.”
“Yeah, could be.”
Huh! These frustrating idiots!
Gu scowled as they nodded along one by one.
Falling for such nonsense!
'That's only if they've got just some moderately skilled fighter. But the Golden Ghost Indestructible ain't moderate.'
Calling the monster who soloed the Crimson Flame Gang 'moderately skilled' was underrating him badly.
And was the Golden Ghost Indestructible just a great fighter?
'He's money-mad.'
The Golden Ghost Indestructible was infamous not just for his solo might, but his fanaticism for wealth.
Ripping eighty gold taels from a leather pouch? With that talent for squeezing money—in a year, he'd make the Diamond Escort Agency not just Taiyuan's top, but Shanxi's.
“That Gu guy's still yapping away.”
Gu tsked as he heard the other informant, forever contradicting to sound smart, spout nonsense.
An informant pushing biased opinions? No professionalism—this guy scraped the bottom.
“Sigh.”
Gu sighed at his own reality, unable to retort inside.
'Time to head home.'
As Gu pushed off the roof to stand—
Crack!
His palm sank into the roof, punching a fist-sized hole through the ceiling.
“...!”
Through the hole revealing his face clearly, he locked eyes with the crowd. Gu's complexion drained white.
C-C-Crisis...!
A few days passed since the Diamond Escort Agency resumed operations.
“Hmph.”
Kang Moo-jin eyed the agency's firmly shut front gate with dissatisfaction.
'Too quiet.'
They'd publicly announced reopening days ago—zero customers?
'Someone sabotaging us?'
At this point, it felt like interference.
“...Brother, glare like that and customers'll flee even if they show.”
Ma Du-gwang approached, dark circles under his eyes from the twilight.
Since Moo-jin absorbed the Crimson Flame Gang, Ma had shuttled busily between it and the agency daily.
“What's wrong with my glare?”
“Scary.”
“It's like this 'cause I'm looking at you. For customers, it'll soften natu—”
“Less scary, sure. Still scary.”
“...”
Moo-jin shot Ma a glare, irrefutable logic stumping him.
Ma Du-gwang, gaining minor precog for incoming violence, subtly backed away.
“Tch. How's the Crimson Flame Gang?”
“Like you said, Brother—running 'em like mad dogs every day.”
Kang Moo-jin believed evil faction thugs needed the evil qi bled out to live properly.
Not literal internal energy—bad attitudes, arrogance, that sort.
“Good work. Bring any complainers like last time. I'll reform 'em quick.”
“Brother... The Crimson Flame Gang leader you beat black-and-blue still wears a bib at meals, drooling rice. Who'd dare complain after that?”
“Indeed.”
Moo-jin nodded solemnly.
Evil faction types needed beatings to wise up—never failed.
Creeeak—
The gate swung open. In strode a man in glossy black leather robes.
“Welcome!”
Moo-jin shot up like a waiter, bowing grandly.
“This the Diamond Escort Agency?”
A grating rasp echoed, like scraping cave walls—voice ravaged by poison, perhaps.
“...”
Chilling aura, eerie voice.
Sensing something off, Ma Du-gwang whispered stiffly.
“Brother. That guy's... weird.”
“I feel it too.”
Moo-jin nodded, subtly clenching his right fist.
“What brings you?”
“...An... escort commission.”
Snap!
Moo-jin clapped fist to palm in a hearty salute, grinning wide.
“Welcome! Diamond Escort Agency!”
“...”
Ma Du-gwang stared at Moo-jin in disbelief.
...This lunatic brother?